Around 200 Indian tourists from Gujarat returned home on Thursday after being stranded in the UAE due to airspace closures triggered by the escalating conflict in West Asia.
The group, mostly from Kheda, Anand, Nadiad and Ahmedabad, had gone on a five-day tour of Dubai and Abu Dhabi, which included a visit to the BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi.
They had departed in batches of 50 from February 25 onward, but found themselves unable to return as scheduled when flight cancellations occurred.
The return was coordinated with authorities at the BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi, the Consulate General of India in the UAE, and local Dubai authorities.
Indian diplomatic missions across the Gulf have been on alert since the disruptions began, with the Indian embassy in Kuwait saying it was in contact with stranded Indian nationals and coordinating with local authorities.
